To save a few shillings without having to scrimp on the sights, here are our EuroCheapo top tips for first time visitors to London.

1. Walk it.

The center of London is deceptively small. Rather than be the tourist who wastes £4.50 getting from Charing Cross to Embankment on the Tube (when they’re right next to each other on the street), it usually pays to use your feet. You get much better views too.

Marvel at London at its most imposing by walking from Trafalgar Square and National Gallery, down Whitehall and on to the Houses of Parliament and Westminster. Or experience the city’s fun side by exploring the streets of Theater Land around Covent Garden, before wandering over one of the Thames’s bridges to the always-bustling South Bank.

From street performers to hidden parks, there’s a lot more to happen-upon when you’re traveling above ground.

2. Use an Oyster card.

It’s an unrealistic hope to completely avoid public transport in London so make sure that when you use it, you’re using it in the smartest possible way. Get an Oyster card: it slashes your journey costs. (For example, it would reduce the cost of that unnecessary Tube trip from Charing Cross to Embankment to £2.10.)

Additionally, opt to take the most picturesque bus routes rather than paying for sightseeing tours (we recommend the RV1).

And if aquatic is your favorite style of transport, I would recommend the Thames Clipper, which goes from Waterloo to the Dome in North Greenwich, as a great cheapo alternative to a river cruise, costing only £3.90 with your Oyster.

3. Visit free sights and museums.

National Museums are all free and definitely worth factoring into any itinerary. The British Museum, Tate Modern and the National Gallery are the more obvious choices for first time visitors, but it’s also worth saying hello to the dinosaur skeleton hung in the imposing Gothic building of the Natural History Museum, spending an afternoon in Greenwich – a world heritage site – at the National Maritime Museum or learning more about your host city at the Museum of London.

Cheapo tip: If you arrived by Eurostar, it’s worth keeping hold of your ticket: they allow two for one entry into many of the major temporary charging exhibitions.

4. Find special offers in advance.

While the paying attractions will undoubtedly make a dent on your wallet, it’s always worth checking out deals before you turn up. It’s cheaper to go on the London Eye if you book in advance, for example. The same applies to bus and train fares.

And while you’re on the National Rail website, make sure to stop off to look at their two-for-one entry deals to places like Tower of London, the Zoo and Madame Tussauds.

5. Grab a free Time Out.

If the last two tips have both failed you, make sure you pick up a copy of Time Out Magazine for their money saving tips and vouchers. The city’s best listing guide is now given away each week for free. Get the new edition each Tuesday for the latest of what’s going on and their authoritative reviews, as well as cost-cutting advice.

6. Vouchers can make meals much cheaper.

Vouchers are your secret weapon when it comes to eating in London without breaking the bank. UK website Money Saving Expert keeps an up-to-date listing of which restaurant chains are currently running 2 for 1 or money off promotions.

We recommend Pizza Express as a safe bet: it’s got branches throughout the capital, reliable service and food and is part of London’s history: it opened its first branch in Soho’s Wardour Street in 1965. Celebrate your savings with an extra helping of their dough balls.

7. Join a free walking tour.

Take a walking tour to familiarize yourself with the city. While there’s plenty of paying options available, there are some fantastic free walks on offer too. Sandeman’s has a free Central London Royal London tour that will guide you through the city from Anglo-Saxon times.

For contrast, Alternative London runs a pay-what-you-like tour of East London, with an emphasis on its street art and creative scene. Both are great ways to get a flavor of the city and to work out what bits you’d like to spend more time exploring yourself.

8. Avoid peak travel times.

If you have some flexibility with your timings, avoiding peak times for travel in the UK will help with both costs and crowds. These times are mainly Easter, Christmas and the school summer vacation, when you’ll be competing with British families to make the most of London. An enjoyable time to visit would be September and early October, once the schools have gone back and there’s usually some late summer sunshine hanging around.

Between Christmas and New Year can also be a good period for exploring the city: the streets are still looking pretty in their festive decorations but are free of stressed commuters. Just be prepared for bad weather and be willing to spend some of your day hauled up in a cozy pub.

9. Use bathrooms when they’re free.

Public conveniences in London tend to be rather inconvenient. There’s not many bathrooms left for public use and those that remain are often paying. With entrance fee of up to 50 pence per visit, you can spend a lot more than pennies during a day’s sightseeing. Instead, make the most of the bathrooms inside tourist attractions, and in restaurants, bars and pubs.

For when you’re out and about, it’s worth taking note of this excellent toilet map, a mobile-friendly guide to all of London’s public facilities. You’ll never need to be caught short – or short of cash – again.

The view from Alexandra Palace is stunning—and Cheapo! Photo: lo_ise.

10. Enjoy free views of the city.

With a trip on the London Eye costing from £17 upwards (even after your early booking discount), going up the Shard priced at £24.95, and an ascent of the London Orbit in the Olympic Park billed at £15, getting a good view of London can be a costly business. But some of the best views in London are free and a great way for a first time visitor to get their heads around the city.

Head up northwards to Alexandra Palace to see a majestic sweep across all of London, or to Parliament Hill where residents gather with picnics in the summer and celebrate each new year with sparklers. In central London, Monument – 202 feet tall and built to commemorate the Great Fire of London in the seventeenth century – costs only £3 to climb. You’ll even get a souvenir certificate thrown into the price.

Got your own Cheapo tips? Share them in the comment section below.  We’re always looking for ways to save in London! And of course, if you’re looking to save on your accommodation, swing by our guide to budget hotels in London.

The post 10 money saving tips for first-time visitors to London appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Instead I approach the bar, ask to use their facilities and prepare to hand over some change for it. How much? At least fifty cents, sometimes one euro.

A dearth of cost-free commodes

Public toilets in the Netherlands are something of a hassle. Forget finding freebies in grocery stores. And rarely will you run into a sympathetic clothing store that will scoot you to their private bathroom. By day, many cafés have signs on windows that announce: “Toilets Cost 50 Cents.” Maybe you can get away without paying at some places, but if an employee sees you upon exiting they’ll bluntly ask you to throw them a bone.

As the brown bars fill up at night it’s easier to get away with a “hit and run” bathroom break, but clubs and some music venues will always charge. In these establishments, there is usually a bathroom employee ready to make it worth your money by offering candy, lotions and perfumes.

Important: Never try going au naturel in bushes or parks—it’s illegal and can result in an hefty fine.

The Port-a-John gender gap

This is all strictly speaking from a female’s perspective on toilet options in the city: Men have it way easier. Numerous green-painted metal pissoirs are scattered about Amsterdam downtown, offering a privacy screen and free outdoor set-up to take a leak in anytime of the day or night.

City festivals load even more temporary urinals to the downtown areas, but always designed for men. Of course, the clubs and bars that charge do so for both sexes, but for free use of public bathrooms, men will always have options.

Reliable options for relief

My advice for those who gotta go? These are reliable options:

• Cough up small change and run to your nearest McDonald’s or Burger King for a guaranteed clean bathroom.

• When exiting museums and attractions, make a note to stop by the restrooms. These are usually free and well kept.

• You can always find clean public toilets in main train stations for about fifty cents.

And if you’re taking the train, the big rule is to never, ever, flush when the train is stopped at a station! Even the most advanced looking trains in Europe can have deceiving toilet techniques: they flush straight onto the tracks.

When the tank’s empty, empty the tank

Driving in Holland? Many gas stations don’t charge for their bathroom facilities. If they do, it’s similar to Germany, where the fifty cents you pay turns into a fifty cents coupon you can use for snacks and drinks at the convenient store. These bathrooms are usually sparklingly clean, too.

A history lesson on latrines

When walking in Amsterdam, look out for large cylinder containers covered in advertising posters and strategically placed in busy downtown areas. Those were once free stalls for women created in the 1970s after a demonstration demanded equal public toilet opportunities.

Unfortunately they’ve been closed for years due to improper use—notably drug use—by locals with bad habits.

More toilet tips?

Do you have your own strategies for using the bathroom on the run? Have you used one of Amsterdam’s plentiful public urinals? Share your stories and any questions you have in the comments section below!

The post Going Dutch: Where to find public restrooms in Amsterdam appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

1. Je ne regrette rien—NOT.

Dear Musée Edith Piaf, You broke my heart. Was it really necessary to slam the door in my face back in November when I arrived at your doorstep without a set rendezvous? I’ve loved you since my first visit back in 1998, and every visit since. So what gives? Do the math. For over a decade, I’ve been sending folks your way. In this easy, breezy social media world, perhaps a new system is needed? Just asking.

Regrette rien at Anna’s music box shop.

If operations get switched up for the better, do let me know. Nothing in this world would give me more pleasure than happily spreading the word about the “little sparrow” and your collection once more. (5 Rue Crespin du Gast, 75011)

Happy alternative plays on

Yearning for a little “La Vie en Rose” to take home with you? Then trek it to Boîtes à Musique Anna Joliet. Located at the northern end of the Jardin du Palais Royal, Anna and her collection of hand-cranked music boxes have held court here for three decades. Prices start at only €8.

Looking for a specific tune? Just ask. Listen for Debussy, Chopin, and Charles Trénet, along with Mozart, Beethoven and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Yes, fellow felines, “Memory” is always in stock.

The Centre Pompidou. All that plumbing… and not one decent toilet.

2. Skip the loo—entirely.

Dear Centre Pompidou, I love you, but it’s time to clean up your act, as my grandmother Helen would quip. I’m no restroom diva, but golly gee wham—I nearly fainted during a recent visit. All that piping on the outside of the building and there’s still a problem? It makes the mind reel! Perhaps it’s time to get Point WC on the horn. After all, their restrooms at the Louvre and Printemps are state of the art and consistently spotless. It’s just a thought.

By the way, the Point WC washrooms are pretty hot. One euro gets you private seating in a water closet lit by rose-colored lights, and stocked with fluorescent toilet paper in blues, pinks, and greens. Just don’t leave your soda pop bottle behind. They will hunt you down, and give you a scolding at sink side! My-O-My, bad.

Alternative pit stop

Cheapos, if you plan to visit the Centre Pompidou, pick your potty spot prior to your arrival. Or run nearby to the grand washrooms at the BHV department store (Bazaar de l’Hotel de Ville), which also boasts one of my pet views of Paris. It’s a straight shot down rue du Renard. Make a left at rue Rivoli. It’s also definitely worth the wait (or trot)!

So what’s red hot? Follow my lead!

Farewell, Sympa.

1. Sympa

Due to a recent fire, two of my favorite Sympa shops have closed. Located at the historic “Bal de l’Elysée Montmartre,” this is where Can Can starlet (and muse of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec) La Goulue got her start before joining the Moulin Rouge.

I nearly cried when I spotted the damage. Confession: I did cry. Its façade is still a beauty, on the outside at least. I’ll keep you posted on any future reconstruction work.

In the meantime, the Sympa bargain bins on rue Steinkerque and along Boulevard de Rochechouart are still overflowing with tremendous deals.

Wendy at the Starbucks kitty-corner to the Moulin Rouge.

2. Starbucks

Café Royalists, look away because you’re going to hate this tip. During my sister Wen’s recent trip to Paris, the Starbucks at Place Blanche is where she picked up her morning coffee.

Located kitty-corner to the Moulin Rouge, the place was bustling, but by the end of her week-long visit, the amiable staff not only knew her name, but also her standard “Café Latte skim” order. Did they make fun of her French? I don’t think so!

Inside and out, the jaunty joint was packed with locals, not tourists, by the way. Don’t hate me because I’m truthful.

Pumped and ready at Minutit moins 7.

3. Minuit moins 7

And speaking of red hot steals, I recently scored a pair of Christian Louboutin kitten heels at a flea market for just €15. They’re real and they’re spectacular. Except for the soles, the black leather shoes were in perfect condition.

So what to do? I took them to the Minuit moins 7 for a much-needed official red resoling. Located in the historic passage Véro-Dodat, the repair will cost just €20. Also, this is where Monsieur Louboutin takes his very own shoes. Ask about their signature homemade (and affordable) shoe polish.

“Gaz à les étages around 1880” at the Bibliothèque Forney

4. Bibliothèque Forney

While strolling about in the Marais, I stumbled upon the “Gaz à tous les étages” exhibition at the Bibliothèque Forney in the Hotel de Sens (1 rue du Figuier, 75004). It’s definitely worth a pop in. Named as a nod to the little blue enamel signs that can still be spotted on buildings throughout the City of Light (“All floors have gas”—a 19th century boasting), the exhibit recounts the brilliant history of gas in Paris.

Highlights include antique lighting and cooking equipment, gas company uniforms, and a stellar collection of advertising posters along with a 1920s kitchen and hair salon, an Art Nouveau bathroom, and Frédéric Kastner’s weirdly entrancing gas organ. It’s a looker, and one of only two in the world. “Gaz à tous” will stay on through January 28, 2012.

Happy New Year, Cheapos!

The post Paris: What’s hot (and what’s not) in 2012 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Just ask and you shall (hopefully) receive:

1. Water at meals

All meals, from the ritziest restaurant to the lowliest donor kebab, should come with a free pitcher of tap water. Even an espresso comes with a glass of room temperature hydration.

If you don’t have a pitcher when your food comes, simply ask for “une carafe d’eau, s’il vous plait,” and don’t hesitate to ask for refills.

2. Bread at meals

Bread is also a staple at the table, so don’t hesitate to ask for it. In typical restaurants, mustard, salt, pepper and bread will be put on the table before you receive your meal. Of course there are many exceptions, but if you’re having a sit-down meal, asking for bread (“le pain, s’il vous plait”) will surprise no one. This is the birthplace of the baguette, after all.

3. Maps

Tourists hitting the streets of Paris with their guidebook maps are often disappointed by the missing streets and tiny Metro maps printed inside the cover of their books. Fortunately cartography is a big business in Paris. Metro maps, in both large and small formats, can be obtained for free at most Metro stations. (Simply ask for “un plan de Metro, s’il vous plait.”)

And the Galeries Lafayettes, one of Paris’ famed department stores, prints free city maps (“plan de Paris”) that can be found in the reception areas of most of Paris’ hotels and hostels, along with other major tourist sights.

4. Samples

This one’s delicate. Free samples are abundant in Paris – if you know when to ask. Many chocolate shops will offer a taste if you linger long enough, but play your cards right. If the shopkeeper can tell you’re going to buy something, he or she will have fewer qualms about offering up a sample to help you decide. And sometimes not.

When you stroll through outdoor markets, merchants are all too eager to have you taste their pineapples and mangos, so just say “Merci!” and taste away. Cheese shops will also be fairly willing to cut you a sliver if you ask to taste the difference between two choices, if you’re clearly going to purchase some fromage.

5. Toilets

While there are many free public bathrooms that look like small space pods located throughout the city, bathrooms are also available with any purchase at a café. If you purchase a café or a Perrier at the café bar (remember, it’s cheaper at the bar than at a table), you can ask for the bathroom without worries.

Note: If the bathroom door looks like it is coin-operated, simply ask for the “jeton” (token) from the server and he or she will hand you a silver coin that will open the door.

6. ATM withdrawals (for Bank of America clients)

Free money? Well, almost. If you want to avoid paying pesky bank fees, you can withdraw without charge from the BNP Paribas bank if you have a Bank of America account. If this applies to you, you will curtail any travelers’ checks or foreign exchange fees that have troubled travelers for so many years. (Read our guide to ATM bank fees for Americans abroad.)

7.  Wi-Fi

I’ve said it once and I’ve said it again: paying for the internet in Paris is a scam. With Paris’ public Wi-Fi program, and the various wireless networks available in cafés and McDonald’s, there is no reason to drop a dime to check your email.

For more information, read my previous post on where to find free Wi-Fi in Paris. Trust me, it still works as long as you have a smart phone or laptop.

Your favorite free things in Paris?

What other freebies have you found in the City of Light? Tell us, Cheapos, in the comments section.

The post Paris: 7 things that are always free in Paris appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

But during our bike tour, I had the last laugh — he had to stop and use the outhouse (and guess who didn’t). Turns out mom wasn’t so ridiculous after all when she used to urge, “Why don’t you just try?”

In New York, long days of walking around can often leave one with her (literal) pants down in the first disgusting restroom to be found. And so I present to you, dear Cheapos, some of the best public (or somewhat public) toilets in town, plus a few tips for finding others.

A guide to New York public bathrooms

In Soho/West Village…

It’s a (surprisingly well-known) secret that one of the best public restrooms in all of Manhattan resides in the Crate & Barrel (611 Broadway) on the corner of Houston and Broadway (just below, it so happens, EuroCheapo’s headquarters in the historic Cable Building). The second-floor bathrooms are clean, accessible and you can head straight through the expansive housewares store without drawing too much attention to yourself.

Near Union Square…

In the past I’ve found myself (more times than I’d like to admit) cruising past the stacks in the Barnes and Noble (33 East 17th Street) on Union Square’s north side to use the third-floor restroom. But the truth is, they aren’t that clean and there is almost always a line.

Then the Nordstrom Rack (60 East 14th Street, between Broadway and Fourth Avenue), the “outlet” version of the fab West Coast department store, opened and I closed the book on Barnes. Now, my East Village/Union Square bathroom break can double as an excuse for browsing the store’s bargain designer duds.

The Lower East Side

On the northwestern edge of the Lower East Side (Bowery and Houston, to be exact) sits not only a clean restroom but one of the city’s most gorgeous food emporiums. I’m talking about the massive Whole Foods Market (95 East Houston), replete with tons of fresh eats, an entire room devoted to cheese and a second floor that houses an incredible food court (hello rotating sushi bar), art exhibits and a small but tidy restroom.

The potties can be used for free, but while there why not browse the aisles and maybe grab a delicious, healthy and cheapo-friendly meal. Stock up for later noshing in a park (just outside) or other public spot. You’ll be happy that you’ve just saved yourself a trip to the oft-icky outdoor facilities.

Another note: In general, the Whole Foods chain is a reliable source of clean restrooms throughout the city. Others can be found in Tribeca (270 Greenwich Street), Chelsea (250 7th Avenue at 24th Street), Union Square (4 Union Square South) and the Upper West Side (808 Columbus at 97th Street).

Midtown West – Columbus Circle

Just north of Times Square is the (in my humble opinion) far more civilized area of Columbus Circle (59th Street and Broadway). Located at the southwestern base of Central Park, and quite attractive in its own right, this business and traffic hub is marked by a lovely fountain and flanked by the entrance to the park on one side, and the Time Warner Center on the other.

The latter is part office building, part upscale shopping mall (also known as “The Shops at Columbus Circle“). For our purposes, it’s also the source of the neighborhood’s best respectable restroom. Head into the building and up the escalators to the second floor. Then beeline it to the right, through the kiosks and just past the Eileen Fisher clothing store that will be on your left-hand side.

Other Toilet Tips

I know the next question: What if you find yourself far from all of the above when nature calls? Here are a few other baño best practices for New York.

1. The Apple Store has four locations in New York, all large, all inviting and all with squeaky-clean facilities. Plus, they’ve got plenty of toys to play with on your way out. Stores are located in Soho (Prince Street and Green Street), Chelsea (14th Street and 9th Avenue), Midtown East (5th Avenue and 59th Street, at the southeast end of Central Park) and the Upper West Side (67th Street and Broadway).

2. The New York Public Library: Not only is it an oft-missed institution, but the New York Public Library has branches throughout the city, most with very clean facilities. (Note that some libraries, however, do not have facilities at all. Yikes!) Want a royal flush? Head to the gorgeous, lion-guarded main branch (40th Street and 5th Avenue), which, it must be noted, is well worth a visit in its own right — don’t miss the map room, one of my favorite spots in the city.

3. Parks: There are also excellent clean public toilets directly behind the main library branch in Bryant Park, between 40-42nd Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues (facilities are located near 42nd Street). Note that many city parks (including Central Park) have public restrooms, however, they’re quite often dingy, gross-out affairs. A private-public partnership maintains Bryant Park and keeps the bathroom facilities very clean.

4. Department Stores are plentiful in the city, especially in Midtown and the Upper East Side, and their restrooms are always well maintained. Some even verge on extravagant. And don’t fret, Cheapos, you can use these luxe loos without having to plunk down a hefty sum on designer duds.

5. Hotels. They’re everywhere. And whether cheapo or “un-,” any moderately-sized hotel will have a lobby bathroom. Just waltz in like you belong there and look for relief.

6. Additional resources. Believe it or not, there are entire sites — and apps — devoted to finding a toilet in New York City. The best I found (yes, I looked) is sitorsquat.com. This helpful mobile app provides a comprehensive map of New York, with public restrooms marked. Best of all, it rates them, gives a brief description and sometimes even provides a photo. Bonus points for a fantastic name.

Your public toilet suggestions?

Where do you find relief when out and about in New York? Tell us in the comments sections.

The post New York: Where to find clean public bathrooms appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here are my top picks for where to ‘go’ when the going gets tough.

Cafes and Restaurants

Italians are a little protective of their places of hygienic refuge. This is why they usually put up a sign saying that the toilets are for paying customers only. However, various Florentine restaurants, bars and cafés have recently been told to share their toilet love—even when no one’s buying anything. As you can imagine, proprietors are still a little “pissed” about this new rule so you have two choices: piddle and run or buy a drink to go with your visit. I recommend the latter.

Department Stores

Coin (Via Dei Calzaiuoli, 56/R) and Rinascente (Piazza della Repubblica) are two big department stores located near the Duomo. What else do they have in common? Free toilets!

Both stores are open daily too though hours vary.

Public Toilets

The city of Florence has graciously built a series of public toilets in and around the city center, and most tourism offices now offer a guide to said public potties (see image above).

Although I have never tried these out, word on the street is that they’re not too bad. However, they are not free. A sitting at a Florentine public outhouse will put you out €.60-1 depending on location. If you feel the need to shower too, this will cost you €3.60. To plan your toilet tour, here’s a helpful map.

Mercato Centrale

After filling your basket with fresh produce from the Mercato’s stalls and maybe wolfing down Florence’s fabled lempredotto sandwiches, take advantage of the free stalls in San Lorenzo market’s main building (see map here). Toilets here are frequented, but clean.

Finally, a word on “Turkish Toilets…”

I feel the obligation to forewarn you on something you might encounter whilst public bathrooming in Florence. There is this monstrosity, this relic of the past that was somehow overlooked by the Renaissance movement. If you do come across that legendary ceramic hole in the ground  (i.e. the Turkish Toilet), please keep these steps in mind. First, use the foot grips. Second, empty your pockets. Third, relax and stand back while you flush. Amen.

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